Are You a Terrible Boss?
Do you sometimes feel like your employees hate you? Do they constantly ignore your emails and phone calls? Are they always checking their phones or talking amongst themselves when you’re trying to give them instructions? If so, then you might be a terrible boss. But don’t worry – there’s still hope for you! There are steps that you can take to become a better leader and improve your relationship with your employees.
We’ve all had horrible bosses on the way up, and we swear that we will be different. But it’s not so easy. No one plans to be an awful boss, after all! Unfortunately, many people end up becoming terrible leaders simply because they don’t know any better. If you’re not sure whether or not you’re a bad boss, here are some signs to look out for:
-Your employees are always complaining about you behind your back.
-They seem unhappy and stressed all the time.
-They avoid you whenever possible.
-There is constantly high turnover in your department.
If you notice any of these signs, then it’s time to take a step back and assess your leadership style. Are you micromanaging your team? Are you being too lenient? Do you need to be more communicative? Once you’ve identified the areas that need improvement, start making changes.
First of all, how do you know for sure? You don’t, and you never will — not with absolute certainty. But if you’re pretty confident, or even just somewhat confident, that you have a problem on your hands, it’s time to take action.
The first step is admitting that you might have a problem. This can be difficult for some people, but it’s essential if you want to improve. Once you’ve accepted that there might be an issue, start making changes in the way that you interact with and manage your employees.
If you’re not sure where to start, try being more communicative with your team. Let them know what your expectations are and ask for their input on projects and tasks. Make yourself available when they need help or have questions. And most importantly, give them honest feedback – both positive and negative.
Do you sometimes lose your temper with your team? Do you tell yourself that this might motivate them, incentivize them? Do you try to justify this behavior to yourself?
It’s time to stop. Losing your temper doesn’t show that you’re in control – it just shows that you’re out of control. Yelling, throwing things, or constantly berating your employees will only make them hate you more. Not to mention, it’ll create a toxic work environment that no one wants to be a part of. By being more communicative and level-headed, you can turn things around and create a positive work environment for everyone involved.
Do you worry that one or more of your team members might secretly want your job — or might even be planning ways to take it from you?
This is a common fear among bosses, but it’s important to remember that not everyone is out to get you. In fact, most people just want to do their jobs and be respected by their peers and superiors. If you’re constantly looking over your shoulder and trying to catch your employees in the act of trying to overthrow you, then you’re going to miss out on the good work that they’re doing.
Instead of worrying about what might happen, focus on being the best boss that you can be. Be confident in your abilities and trust that your team will respect you for it.
Do you treat all your employees equally, or do you have your favorites?
This is a difficult question to answer, because there can be benefits to both approaches. If you have your favorites, then they might feel more motivated to do their best work and exceed your expectations. However, if you treat all your employees equally, then everyone will feel like they have a chance to succeed and advance in the company.
The best approach is probably somewhere in the middle. Showing that you value each of your employees for their individual skills and contributions will go a long way in making them feel appreciated. At the same time, don’t hesitate to give praise where it’s due – even if it means singling out one member of your team.
Do you sometimes let your biases and prejudices show?
We all have biases and prejudices, but it’s important to keep them in check when you’re at work. If you let your personal beliefs influence the way you treat your employees, then it will create an uncomfortable and potentially hostile work environment.
Not only is this bad for morale, but it can also lead to legal problems down the road. If you’re accused of discrimination or harassment, then you could be facing some serious consequences.
The best thing to do is to try to be aware of your own biases and prejudices, and make an effort to treat everyone fairly and equally. We all have a lot to learn, but we can start by making an effort to be more open-minded and understanding.
How about your sense of humor?
Having a sense of humor is great, but you need to be careful that you’re not crossing the line into inappropriate territory. What might seem harmless to you could be offensive to someone else.
If you’re not sure whether something is appropriate or not, then it’s probably best to err on the side of caution and avoid saying it. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
How do you know how friendly to be to your team – how much socializing is appropriate, given your role? Sometimes employees may feel like they need to be friends with their boss in order to get ahead.
This is a difficult question to answer, because it varies from person to person and from company to company. In general, it’s probably best to keep things relatively professional at work. That doesn’t mean you can’t be friendly with your employees, but you shouldn’t try to force a friendship.
If you’re not sure what the social norms are at your workplace, then it’s best to ask someone else – preferably someone who isn’t your direct report. Getting a second opinion will help you avoid any potential awkwardness or misunderstanding.
Do you need to be liked by everyone? Or by anyone?
No, you don’t need to be liked by everyone. In fact, it’s probably impossible to please everyone all the time. What’s important is that you’re respectful and fair to your employees. As long as you’re doing that, then you’re doing your job as a boss.
Of course, it’s always nice to be liked by someone. But don’t let that be your primary focus – it’s not worth the stress and anxiety. Just do your best and trust that your team will appreciate your efforts.
Did you know that there are seven different categories of bad boss? They are, in no particular order: the micromanager, the narcissist, the hothead, the know-it-all, the bully, the credit hogger and last but not least, the slacker. (There’s one more, of course: the horny toad. But that’s a story for another day.)
If you think you might be any of these types of bosses, then it’s important to try to make some changes. No one is perfect, but we can all strive to be better bosses.
The first step is to try to identify which category you fall into. The best thing you can do if you think you might be a bad boss is to ask your employees for feedback. This can be done informally, by simply asking them how they feel about your leadership style. Or, if you prefer, there are also formal tools like 360-degree evaluations that can give you more detailed insights.
Once you know which category applies to you, you can start working on making some changes. For example, if you’re a micromanager, then try to give your employees more independence and trust them to do their jobs. If you’re a narcissist, then try to be more humble and focus on your team’s collective success, rather than your own individual accomplishments.
There are a lot of different ways to be a bad boss, but there are also a lot of different ways to be a good one. It’s up to you to decide which type of boss you want to be. Remember, it’s never too late to make some changes and improve the way you lead your team.
With a little effort, you can be the boss that everyone loves to work for. Or, at least, a boss that most people can stand to work for.
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Content by Audere Magazine.
